important theoretical contributions to physics, chemistry, and
mathematics. His work on the applications of thermodynamics was
instrumental in transforming physical chemistry into a rigorous
deductive science. Together with James Clerk Maxwell and Ludwig
Boltzmann, he created statistical mechanics (a term that he coined),
explaining the laws of thermodynamics as consequences of the statistical
properties of large ensembles of particles. Gibbs also worked on the
application of Maxwell's equations to problems in physical optics. He
invented modern vector calculus, independently of Oliver Heaviside's
similar work. In 1863, Yale awarded Gibbs the first American doctorate
in engineering. He was a professor of mathematical physics at Yale from
1871 until his death. Working in relative isolation, he became the
earliest theoretical scientist in the United States to earn an
international reputation, and in 1901 he was awarded the Copley Medal of
the Royal Society of London. He was praised by Albert Einstein as "the
greatest mind in American history".
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah_Willard_Gibbs>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
660 BC:
According to tradition, Emperor Jimmu founded Japan and
established his capital in Yamato.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Jimmu>
1858:
Fourteen-year-old peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous reported
the first of eighteen Marian apparitions in Lourdes, France, resulting
in the town becoming a major site for pilgrimages by Catholics.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lourdes_apparitions>
1929:
To help settle the "Roman Question", Italy and the Holy See of
the Roman Catholic Church signed the Lateran Treaty to establish Vatican
City as an independent sovereign enclave within Italy.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateran_Treaty>
1979:
The Pahlavi dynasty of Iran effectively collapsed when the
military declared itself "neutral" after rebel troops overwhelmed forces
loyal to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in armed street fighting.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution>
1990:
Anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner
for 27 years, was released from Victor Verster Prison near Paarl, South
Africa.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
nosh:
(intransitive, usually with on) To eat a snack or light meal. […]
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nosh>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
Government ought not to be invested with power to control the
affections, any more than the consciences of citizens. A man has at
least as good a right to choose his wife, as he has to choose his
religion. His taste may not suit his neighbors; but so long as his
deportment is correct, they have no right to interfere with his
concerns.
--Lydia Maria Child
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lydia_Maria_Child>
_______________________________________________
Wikipedia Daily Article mailing list.
To unsubscribe, visit:
https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/daily-article-l
Questions or comments? Contact dal-feedback@wikimedia.org